The following series is a work of fiction. It explores potentially controversial themes such as Domestic Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Suicide, and Graphic Violence. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Reader discretion is advised.

EPISODE 1

What if he doesn’t like me?

It was the only thing on Evony's mind as she rode in the rattling carriage. What if he regretted the decision to take her in? There was nowhere else for her to go, no more money, and no connections. Should she beg for at least the chance to work as a servant girl?

Grand Duke Schneider was part of a great noble family that not even the king could cross. Wouldn’t it be a simple matter for him to allow her a small room in the attic?

“Watch your manners and from now on, keep your mouth shut and know your place,” the guard warned.

Evony was nervous enough as she was, and the guard wasn’t helping. She nodded as she bit her lower lip. The prison guard despised the sound of her voice, so she thought it would be better to simply nod, even if it made her look impudent.

“Ha! Grand Duke Schneider sure has landed himself with a handful. A poor and useless girl like you.”

Better than anyone, Evony knew this was true. But even though she was thinking that, she kept the submissive attitude and lowered her head. The guard crossed his legs away from her dirty shoes in disgust, trying his best to keep the nose of his boot clean.

Again, as if she were diseased.

His repulsion caused her constant prodding.

“Beware. If you leave the capital or get in trouble ever again, then I swear on my name that I’ll have you executed.”

Nod. Another nod. Evony thought that it might look half-hearted if she only nodded once, so she quickly added two more nods. But the temperamental guard wrinkled his lips and viciously whipped her thighs with a riding crop in his hand.

Crack!

Ouch.

Searing pain throbbed her thighs. Tears welled in her eyes, but she couldn’t make so much of a sound as a groan. All Evony could do was crouch and gently press her thighs to hold in the pain.

The guard did not enjoy horseback riding. His riding crop’s only purpose was to lash at the beast that Evony was to him.

“You’ll always be watched. Don’t you ever forget that.”

Was an answer expected? Or should she simply nod? If she were to go against his will, she would be whipped again. Luckily, as Evony tightly bit her lip and contemplated what to do, the carriage came to a halt.

“We’ve arrived at last. Like I said, keep your mouth shut and stay in your place. If you become a bother to the grand duke, I swear I’ll feed you to the dogs alive.”

To everyone there, she was but an animal.

The guard made a face which showed his repulsion at the idea of being in the same space as Evony, quickly got off the carriage, and took a deep breath. He also didn’t forget to dust off his jacket with the hand that wasn’t holding the whip.

With one hand still rubbing her thighs to try and ease the throbbing pain, Evony picked up her worn-out suitcase with the other hand. It was time to leave the carriage. But it wasn’t clear whether she needed permission to or needed to do so immediately.

The escort carriage had no windows, so Evony had to hesitantly poke her head outside and look around. She saw that her prison guard first was talking to someone. Then, he made a gesture towards the carriage.

This time it seemed like this was a definite cue for Evony to step out. She scrambled to her feet and barely stood up, supporting herself against the carriage wall.

The carriage was well above the ground, but with not even a foothold for women, making Evony fall to the ground and lose her grip on the suitcase which plopped to the ground with a thud. But this wasn’t anything to call attention to. She quickly got to her feet, brushed off her hands, and grabbed her suitcase.

“Tsk.”

The guard glared at Evony with his eyes full of contempt. He then turned his back on her and bowed deeply to an elderly gentleman.

“Then I shall be on my way, sir,” the guard said.

“Safe travels.”

The guard climbed into the carriage and she watched it ride off, down the fir tree lined road. Evony finally allowed herself a deep sigh of relief.

She wondered if this was just the beginning, and what she could do to please the people there. She didn’t want to be kicked out, didn’t want to starve, but above all, did not want to be beaten again.

Evony took a deep bow towards the elderly gentleman standing in front of her. She lowered her gaze in obedience and dared not make eye contact.

That was the way to avoid consequences.

“Welcome, Lady Evony.”

The man bowed deeply. “Lady?”

The way he addressed her took Evony completely by surprise. For a second, she doubted the man to be a slave. But by the guard’s attitude towards him earlier, it was clear that the gentleman’s position was above the guard’s.

Curiosity got the better of her. She slowly raised her head and was met with an unbelievable sight.

In the middle of a wide meadow, with the beautiful antique castle as the background, stood this elderly gentleman dressed in a custom-tailored suit. Surely, he could only be from a dream. How could he be a real person? Evony wasn’t sure how he wasn’t a wax figure of some sort. She awkwardly attempted a smile at the butler of the Grand Duke Schneider’s castle.

“We have been eagerly awaiting you, miss.”

Liar.

It had to be a lie. She was certain of it. As expected of a butler serving a great nobility, he was exceptionally good at lying.

But regardless of what Evony was thinking, the butler maintained the friendly smile on his wrinkled face. He politely reached to take Evony's worn-out suitcase.

“I’ll guide you to your room, Lady Evony.”

What was going on? Was this a new form of abuse? But Evony did not dare ask the reason behind the kindness and followed the man with her head down.

The Schneider castle was as beautiful and majestic as the rumors, which even Evony had heard. She wasn’t sure if it was okay to hide in such a perfect picture. Wouldn’t she be a blemish to its grandeur? That was all she could think of.

The norm was for the servants to use the back, but the butler confidently threw open the front doors. The white carpeted double staircase, the glistening marble floor, which was worrying to walk on, and the galaxy-like chandelier made Evony freeze in fear.

All of this was so perfectly beautiful.

“It’s this way, Lady Evony.”

This “Lady” thing! Was this a habit of his, she wondered as she followed the butler up the stairs. Whenever her dirty shoes stepped on the carpet, the perfectly brushed strands were left awfully wrinkled. It felt like sin to walk on them.

Oh God, if only she could fly away!

“It’s the first time we’ve hosted a female guest in our castle, so the people here gathered for a debate for the first time in a while. We have prepared a cozy room with the most daylight on the second floor, so do look around. If there is anything you need or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, please feel free to let me know whenever you wish.”

It was impossible to not doubt the butler’s words now. She was afraid this elderly gentleman confused a princess of the same name with the dirty Evony Vonieck.

She found herself asking a question: “Why are you treating me so kindly?”

Her voice was small, and it trembled.

Standing in front of the red mahogany door, the butler again put on a warm smile.

“Like I said, because the person we’ve eagerly awaited has now arrived. Now, my lady, this is your room.”

He opened the door. Because she was facing the room, Evony was forced to look inside. And in that moment, she completely forgot the guard’s words to shut her mouth and let out a small shriek.

“Ah...”

Oh, my dear God. This must be heaven, I’m sure of it. When did I die? It did not hurt or anything. God, did you really pity my soul that You couldn’t give me a proper death but sent me straight to heaven? Is this Your way of answering my prayers?

The room was full of snow-white and shiny things. It felt like peeking into a king’s bedroom drawn in famous paintings. The bed was decorated by four wooden pillars adorned with flowers and a draping canopy. Neatly lying on the bed were big, white cloud-like pillows and blankets. The floor was covered with a smooth wood color carpet, an entire wall was covered with a vanity table, and matching the wide room was an equally wide balcony.

Above all, the purple Hydrangea flowers covered the room.

“Master specially prepared these.”

Thud. Evony did not even make it into the room when she fell to the ground in awe.